SATV, Kathmandu, Sept. 09 - Nepal suffered their first setback in the ongoing ACC Men’s Premier Cup, falling to a narrow 15-run defeat against Hong Kong at the Bayuemas Oval on Tuesday.
Despite having already secured a semi-final berth following three consecutive victories, Nepal were keen to preserve their unbeaten record.
However, a brilliant unbeaten 117 from Babar Hayat proved the difference. The result lifted Hong Kong to second place in Group A, securing their progression to the knockout stage alongside group winners Nepal.
Group A toppers Nepal will now face Group B runners-up Oman in the first semi-final, while Hong Kong take on Group B winners the United Arab Emirates in Bangi.
Nepal enter the last-four clash with confidence, having defeated Oman in their last three meetings.
Nepal had opened their ACC Premier Cup campaign with a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bahrain, before producing assured displays to beat hosts Malaysia by six wickets and Saudi Arabia by five wickets.
Hong Kong, meanwhile, began with a 16-run win over Saudi Arabia before suffering a 32-run defeat against Bahrain.
They revived their campaign by prevailing in a Super Over against Malaysia. After electing to field, Nepal made early inroads as Hong Kong endured a sluggish start.
Openers Zeeshan Ali (15) and Anshuman Rath (13) added 18 runs off 37 balls, before off-spinner Sher Malla broke through to restrict Hong Kong to 44 for two in the opening powerplay.
Hayat then steadied the innings, bringing up his half-century off 95 deliveries. Supported by Shahid Wasif’s brisk 45 and an unbroken 128-run eighth-wicket partnership with Ehsan Khan (not out 35), Hayat accelerated to reach his century off 123 balls.
He finished unbeaten on 117 off 126 deliveries, a knock decorated with seven fours and seven sixes. Hong Kong added 105 runs without loss in the final 10 overs to finish on 261 for seven.
Captain Sandeep Lamichhane took four for 44, while Malla claimed three for 27, but the rest of the bowling attack struggled to stem the late onslaught.
In reply, Nepal made a steady start, reaching 47 for one in the powerplay as openers Aasif Sheikh and Arjun Kumal made 44 and 14 respectively.
However, the chase faltered when Dev Khanal (6) and skipper Rohit Paudel (3) fell in quick succession, leaving Nepal in trouble at 71 for three after 17 overs.
Ishan Pandey revived Nepal's hopes, building a 54-run stand alongside Dipendra Singh Airee (25). Pandey top-scored with a fighting 90 off 106 balls, including six fours and two sixes.
Useful contributions from Gulshan Jha (20) and Karan KC (21) kept Nepal in the hunt as they crossed the 200-run mark in the 45th over.
However, Nepal were unable to match Hong Kong’s decisive late run-rate acceleration. Aizaz Khan produced a match-winning spell of four for 50 to rip through the middle and lower order.
Tail-enders Sandeep Lamichhane (2), Sher Malla (5not out), and Lalit Rajbanshi (1) could not hold out, as Nepal were bowled out for 246 in 49.1 overs, 15 runs short of their target.
